Directions

In heavy sauce pot, combine all ingredients except pears; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by a quarter. Meanwhile, peel pears and add peels to poaching liquid. Cut pears in half and core. Strain poaching liquid and add pears. Bring to a simmer and poach pears until tender. Place pears and liquid in opaque container. Cover with plastic and let stand at room temperature overnight. Reserve 1 cup poaching liquid for port wine caramel.

SUGARED WALNUTS:

Heat oven to 350° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In small bowl, mix all ingredients except walnuts. Add walnuts and stir to coat. Spread in single layer on baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Break into pieces. Set aside.

CHEESECAKE:

Heat oven to 250° F. Spray 8-inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper; spray again. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add blue cheese; beat until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape bowl. Add sour cream, honey, salt and pepper. Beat until combined.

Pour into pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until set and knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool to room temperature in pan.

PORT WINE CARAMEL:

In heavy sauce pot, combine 1 cup sugar and the corn syrup. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cook at slow rolling boil until dark amber. In another pot, bring cream and reserved poaching liquid just to a boil; keep warm. When sugar is amber, add remaining sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in cream mixture slowly, allowing mixture to reduce after each addition. Cook until the consistency of thick syrup, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.